HMS Sutherland back at sea after upgrade as final Type 23 to receive Sea Ceptor missiles
HMS Sutherland has returned to sea following a four-year overhaul at Devonport dockyard, becoming the last Type 23 frigate to complete a life-extension upgrade under defence firm Babcock.
The upgrades will keep Sutherland in service into the mid-2030s, alongside her sister ships.
She has now begun sea trials and training before rejoining the Royal Navy fleet, with a focus on submarine-hunting operations in the North Atlantic.
Her refit included a full structural survey, more than 800 inserts, 11,500 weld repairs, and more than five kilometres of welding.
A key upgrade was the installation of the 2150 sonar system, requiring the removal and replacement of the sonar bow dome in a complex lifting operation.
Sutherland is also the final Type 23 to receive the Sea Ceptor missile system, now battle-proven after HMS Richmond used it to shoot down drones in the Gulf last year.
"HMS Sutherland has benefited from a signification modernisation and extension of key weapons, sensors, and equipment in this extensive refit," said Commander James Wallington-Smith, the ship's Commanding Officer.
"This accomplishment is down to the hard graft and considerable efforts of both the ship's company and Babcock working closely together to deliver success.
"The ship and her crew are now ready to continue the next stage of trials and training in the return to operations."
The refit also involved major machinery and electrical system upgrades, with entire sections of the ship deconstructed and rebuilt.
This included new diesel generators, motor generator sets, forward and aft switchboards, and several miles of new pipework and cabling.
Babcock officially handed Sutherland back to the Royal Navy during a ceremony on board before she sailed down the River Tamar into Plymouth Sound.
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